The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-19

our land. We know THAT different
species vary greatly in their powers of
colonizing; some spread quickly, and
others slowly. During the continuance
of continental epoch, some of the
faster-spreading species would get as
far as Ireland; others, not so quick,
would only get to England; while some
would not have time to get even as far.
And so, when the continuity of land
was broken up, Ireland had received
fewer than England, and England
itself only portion of the continental
species; and it may be that Ireland was
separated from England before the lat
ter was severed from the continent. The
smaller native flora of Ireland is ac-
counted for by the same facts.
Geology is no respecter of nations.
Not only does it show us our proud
island as mere fragment of the CONT
nent, but we are also assured
that some of our chief rivers were only
tributaries of the Rhine. We fear that
some patriotic politicians will have a
quarrel with geology on this point.
During portion of the glacial period,
the land was covered, or nearly so, by
the sea, and afterwards united by the
continent, chiefly by plain of bowlder
clay. Through this plain Prof. Raj
sey thinks the Rhine wandered to its
mouth in the north part of the North
sea; while the Thames, the Tyne, the
rivers of the Wash and Humber, and
possibly some Scottish rivers, were its
Tributaries. Thus the solid lands and
the constant rivers are shown to be
mere passing phases in an sver-chang-
ing picture.
The political geography of Europe
has undergone great changes in his
toric times; geology tells of extensive
physical changes in the more distant
past. The outlines of physical geog-
raphy very different from that of to-day
have been sketched out for us in the
caves and on the rocks. Biologists
have transferred the sketch to paper
in the ordinary style of map-drawing.
Here is an outline of it: The Bristol
channel is fertile valley. where the
noceros browse on the rich herbage
Lions, wolves and other beasts of prey
pursue and devour them, where now
the salt waves roll The British Isles
are united to the continent, and the
Rhine flows along great valley,
now the North sea, and is
Joined by its tributaries, the Elbe,
Thames, etc. Extensive valleys occupy
the sites of the English and st. George $
channels, where the herbivora Craze
and are pursued by their carnivorous
contemporaries. Spain, and Italy with
Sicily, being respectively joined to
Africa, divide the Mediterranean into
two large lakes; Corsica and Sardinia
united form great promontory,
stretching out into the most western of
these. Across these connecting areas
the animals of Africa-the lion. spotted
hyena, Kafir cat. serval, antelope and
African elephant-pass into Europe.
After long ages their remains are found
| in the caves, to testify of this former
state of things. Geology receives
aid from every other science
and in return throws back light upon
each. Meteorology, or the science of
the weather, is one on which geology
largely depends; it furnishes the key
note for the resolution of many geologic
al problems. In return, geology has
enriched it with many interesting facts
with regard to the weather of the ages
that are gone. Rain-prints and ripple
marks on slabs of sandstone or shale
tell us that the rain fell, and that the
wind rutfied the surface of the water
Rounded fragments and striated peb-
bles tell us of rivers rolling along their
gravel, and glaciers moving down the
valleys. Such evidence is so common
and well known, that it ceases to
surprise us. When, however, we
hear that there is good
geological evidence to show
| that i'll times so remote as the Silurian,
the prevailing winds in this region
NcIc wealthy, 10 tliCp tlc JO-udN, Oul
wonder can no longer be restrained.
Evidence of the prevailing westerly
winds III the present is seen in the one
sided growth of trees towards the east
in exposed situations. The growth OF
large towns towards the west, to avoid
the smoke from the manufacturing
quarters, is another proof. And what
is the witness OF the rocks to a similar
prevalence in the past? Long ago,
when the rocks which we cal
Silurian were being laid down
Wales was center of volcanic
activity. Mount Snowdon is formed OF
the products of the volcanoes of the
period, interstratified with contempo
raneous sedimentary rocks. The root,
of some of these old volcanoes have
been found and examined. The ash.
beds around them thin out very rapidly
toward the west, while to the east ant
north they are much thicker. TOWARD
the east they thicken for a space, ant
then thin out. 1t is evident that the
greater part of the li0htor volcanic